To Research vs Researching Infinitives & Gerunds

When and How to Use Each Expression?

Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!

To research (Infinitive)

Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to research" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action

Example

I want to research the topic before writing my paper.

Researching (Gerund)

Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "researching" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.

Example

Researching allows you to gain in-depth knowledge about a subject.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To research (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To research is an essential part of the scientific process.

  To research is an essential part of the scientific process.

  • "*To research*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an essential part of the scientific process).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to research the market trends.

  She wants me to research the market trends.

  • "Me *to research* the market trends" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to research* the market trends).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a reliable source to research the information.

  I need a reliable source to research the information.

  • "*To research* the information" modifies the noun "source."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable source *to research* the information).

Researching (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Researching requires dedication and patience.

  Researching requires dedication and patience.

  • "*Researching*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (dedication and patience).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy researching various topics.

  I enjoy researching various topics.

  • "*Researching* various topics" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*researching* various topics).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for researching new technologies.

  She has a passion for researching new technologies.

  • "For *researching* new technologies" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *researching* new technologies).

Verbs Taking Infinitives/Gerunds as Objects

The following are verbs that can take only the base form of the verb (infinitive), only the -ing form (gerund), or both.

Verbs Taking Infinitives as Objects

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to research the topic thoroughly before making a decision.

They hope to research different options for their project.

He wants to research the effects of climate change.

We decided to research the historical background of the event.

They agreed to research the potential risks of the new technology.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys researching different cultures and traditions.

They recommend regularly researching industry trends.

I dislike the process of researching tedious data.

He avoids researching controversial topics.

Can you imagine yourself researching in a laboratory?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to research new discoveries. She likes researching new discoveries.

We started to research the impact of technology. We started researching the impact of technology.

He began to research the origins of the language. He began researching the origins of the language.